Convertible vehicle-body.



CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE BODY,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, i918.

Pmntel July 23, MM@

JAMES 'I'. IIACKNEY, OF VERSAILLES, KENTUCKY.

CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE-BOFH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented duly 23, 1918..

Application :tiled February 25, 1918. Serial No. 219,061.

To all 'Lv/wm z' may concern:

De known that l, J'AMns T. HAoiiNnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of ldoodford and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Vehicle-Bodies, of which the following is aspecilication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to vehicle bodies, and particularly to means whereby a wagon body may be converted either into a rack, such as is used for carrying hay or `other commodities, or into a box wagon..

The general object of the invention is to provide a construction of this kind which is veryv simple, may be cheaply made, and `which is thoroughly effective.

A further object is yto provide improved means for bracing the upper sections of the wagon box sides when the latter are turned into an approximately horizontal position, which bracing means adds to the strength of the hinges which engage the outer sections of the sides with the lower sections.

A further object is to provide a convertible wagon body which is adapted to be converted by a single operator, and in this connection to provide means upon the end gates for supporting the upper sections of the sides in vertical position, said means permitting one side section to be turned upward or downward and then permitting the other side section to be turned upward or downward. l

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

l My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved wagon showing the body arranged as a looX body;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear end viewfof the construction shown in Fig. l;

Fig. Il is a sectional view on the line 11M-1lof F ig. l;

Fig. 5 is a like view to Fig. 4 but showing the member 16 turned down to convert the body into a hay rack;

Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the braces 23 and 24; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the hinges, the leaves being separated and showing the strip 21 in place.

Referring to these drawings, 10 designates the bottoni of the wagon body or bed having the vertically extending side boards l1, which are permanently held in a vertical position, these side boards 11 constituting the lower sections of the sides of the wagon body. Extending transversely across beneath the bottoni and engaged therewith, are a plurality of transverse beams 12 and 13, the beams 12 being disposed at the ends of the wagon body and the beams 13 being disposed on each side of the middle of the wagon body.`

Extending across the ends of the Vagon body and having a height equal to the height of the sections -11 are the end boards 1l. These end boards are made of hard wood and the forward end board is bolted in place. The rear end board, however, is detachably held in place. JExtending across the ends of the wagon body just inward of the end boards let, are the transverse braces 15. l-l'ingedly mounted upon the sections 11 are the sections 1G which are preferably made. of relatively soft wood and have a. width slightly greater than the width of the sections 11. Each section 1G is connected to the section 11 by means of hinges 17 disposed immediately above the beams 12 and 13. The upper leaf of each hinge 17 is formed at its upper end with an eye 18 and the lower end of each lower leaf is reduced in thickness to foi-in a bolt shank 1-9 which passes through the corresponding beam 12 or 13 as the case may be, these bolt shanks being provided with nuts 20, as shown in Fig. 5. i

Reinforcing strips of inetal, designated 21, extend upward on the inside of the sections 1G, are turned over the outer edges of these sections, and then down on the outside of the sections, beneath the upper leaves of the hinges to receive the shank of the eye bolt 18. There are, of course, as many of these strips 21 as there are hinges.

Extending through the lower ends of the lower leaves of the hinges 17 are the eye bolts- 22. Pivotally connected to each of these eye bolts 22 is a rod 23 which is formed at its lower end to pivotally engage the eye bolt and swingingly or pivotally engaging each eye bolt 18 is a tubular member 24 in which the rod .28 telescopes or has sliding` movement. Preferably the upper en-d of the tube 24: is flattened and perforated to receive the eye of the eye bolt 18. These braces formed by the members 23 and 21 are ot' such length that when the upper sections 16 are turned into nearly a right angular relation to the lower sections 11, the members 23 and 24 will telescope, as illustrated on the left hand in Fig. and form braces supporting the side sections 16 in their anguiar relation. Then thesev side sections 16 are turned upright in a vertical position, the Ymembers 23 21ndv 24: slide within each other so as to accommodate this position of the side member.

kPreferably the outer edge of each section 16 has a reinforcing strip '25 bolted to it whieh extends nearly the. entire length of the section and at` its yends is connected to downwardly extending strips 26 against whieh the end gates 27 and 2S engage. The extremities. of, the sections 16 are also providedVy with: vertical Strips 29 delining grooves between which the endl gates 27 yand 28 are slidable. These end gates 27 and 28 are Provided withyertieal reinforcing strips 30.r WhichA bear at. their lower ends upon the beams 15 and extending transversely throughk these striped() is a rod 31, this rod 31 beingY shiiitable through the strips and carrying on itsends the hooks which have swingingly engaged eyes on the ends of the rods 431. These hooks are adapted to engagewith eyetbolts engaging` the ends ot the member 16.

For the purpose of supporting end racks upon the wagon body, I provide at opposite ends of the sectionsV 11, the straps 3i, the middle of each of these straps being outwardly bent. The racks 35 have vertical members 36 which engage within these outwardly bent portions.- of the straps to thus hold; the racks in Vertical position but permit; the ready' removal of the rac-ks when desired.

The. mannen inA which this convertible Wagon body is used will be obvious tromthe description, but itv is to be particularly pointed out that with this construetionone manLcan convert the Wagon-.body.` Thus, it

, itbe desired to convert the body. from a hay rack to afb'ox. body, the operator simply lifts upon one ofy the upper. sections16,there beingqno., impediment to the upward and inf Wardmovement of. theseetion onits hinges,

and then connects the adjacent hook 32 toV theeye bolt 33. He can then liftthe other through section 16 and connect it to the hoolt 32 and then proceedingY to the tront ot the wagon 7connect the respective hooks 32 to their oye .bolts Of course the body may be as easily converted from a box to a hay 'at-l; as when the side sections 16 are turned down to their angular position, they are immediately braced just as soon as the two sew tions have telescoped their full extent.

One of the main objects of my invention. is to maintain simplicity and cheapness in the construction ot this wagon body and to reduce the parts to the smallest number pos sible for eiij'ective service. 1t will be noted that the means :tor holding the sections 16 in a vertical position also provides tor locking the end gates 2T and Q8 in position against vertical movement and that the rod 3l has a limited sliding movement in the strips 30 so that the outward pressure on one ot the sect-ions 16 is transmitted to the other section and is counterbaianced thereby.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim is A wagon body of the character described including a tloor, permanent side sections attached to the tioor and extending upwardly therefrom, side sections superpost-d upon the irst named side sections,` hinges connecting` the side sections at a plurality ol' points, each of saidl hinges being reduced ai its lower end to forni a scre\\'-tlneaded bolt shank, beams passing beneath the bottom of the wagon and through which said shanlts pass, nuts engaging the bolt shanks and. holding the beams in place, strips attached to the inside faces of the swinging side sec-- tions extending upward over the outer edges thereof and then downward beneath the upper ends of said hinges, eye bolts passing through the upper ends ot the hinges and said strips, eye bolts passing through the lower ends of said hinges and the permanent side sections, telescopicl bracing members respectively connected to the upper and lower eye bolts, and means for llOldHg the hinged Sido sections in vertical position.

In testimony whereof l hereunto atlix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES T. HACKNEY. VVitnesseS:

KATHERINE LANNON, Essie DAUGHERTY.

G epiegofithis patent, may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Y Washington, D. G. 

